Thor,
I am not a collector, seasoned or otherwise, so some of the comments about what "original" is are a bit over my head and seem a bit like picking nits. However, some collectors go to those extremes and it seems like they should be thankful for your rework marks. For others who are more like me and enjoy your fine craftsmanship and the unique design of the Luger, a rework mark in an inconspicuous place is a non issue. It seems to me that an honest person would welcome keeping dishonest people honest. After all, what I do with your reworked gun isn't really the issue as I see it. It is what the guy I sell it to (not likely to happen any time soon
) does with it. If he is prohibited from passing it off as an "original" so much the better.
This discussion reminds me of when I got my Garand reworked. I had bought it from CMP and it was not pretty. I sent it to an armorer who among other things, re barreled it and put a new stock on it. He engraved the name of his shop in beautiful script on the barrel where it could be seen. I have no idea if he does this to alert others that it is a rework or not, but I was not disappointed in the least. After all, I had no intention of passing it off as a pristine example of a 1944 Garand even if had not put his mark on it (of course he didn't try to fake serial numbers or date stamps on the barrel so a knowledgeable collector would have seen it was a rework quickly - but possibly an inexperienced collector might not). In fact I was a little proud to have his mark on it because some who know his work would realize I had a quality gun.
I see you have decided to leave it up to the customer whether he wants the rework marks or not. That is your call. But for me. It bothers me not a wit that you will put them on my gun and it makes me feel a lot better knowing I am dealing with a honest smith who obviously has not desire to fool anyone.
I can't imagine anyone feeling differently, but that's just me.